London 2012

Olympics Legends (pt3)

Daley Thompson
Country: England
DOB: 30/7/1958
Olympics: 1980, 1984
Medal haul: 2 (2)

Ten disciplines but a single mind
The Great British Public’s favourite ever all-rounder, Thomson endeared himself to the nation after winning gold in Los Angeles and casually whistling God Save the Queen on the medal podium. He was awarded the MBE in 1982, the OBE in 1986, and the CBE in 2000.
Did you know?
In the 1990s, Thompson played professional football for Mansfield Town and Stevenage Borough.

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Felix Savon
Country: Cuba
DOB: 22/9/1967
Olympics: 1992, 1996, 2000
Medal haul: 3 (3)

King of the Olympic rings
The finest in a long and illustrious lineage of amateur Cuban boxers, Felix Savon dominated the heavyweight division for 14 years competing in three Olympic games and never looking like coming away with anything but a gold medal: his first Olympic gold in Barcelona came after beating Nigeria's David Izonritel 14-1; four years later he annihilated David Defiagbon of Canada 20-2. A brutal punching machine.
Did you know?
Savon could and should have won four consecutive golds, but in 1988 Cuba boycotted the Games.

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Fanny Blankers-Koen
Country: Holland
DOB: 26/4/1918
Olympics: 1948
Medal haul: 4 (4)

The Flying Dutchwoman
A 30-year-old mother of two when the 1948 Olympic games in London began, Fanny Blankers-Koen sprinted away with four gold medals in the 100m, 200m, 80m hurdles and the 4x100m relay whilst pregnant with her third child. A dramatic and insurmountable achievement.
Did you know?
As well as speed-associated events, Blankers-Koen even set a world record in the high jump!

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Mark Spitz
Country: USA
DOB: 10/2/1950
Olympics: 1968, 1972
Medal haul: 11 (9)

Seven Heaven
In 1972 Mark Spitz’s haul of 7 gold medals was an Olympic record (only usurped by Michael Phelps in 2008) and his total of 9 gold medals equals that of Olympic greats such as Carl Lewis, Larysa Latynina and Paavo Nurmi. Nice moustache too.
Did you know?
He broke his first world record in the pool at the age of 10 in the 100m butterfly.

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Linford Christie
Country: England
DOB: 2/4/1960
Olympics: 1988, 1992
Medal haul: 3 (1)

The old man of sprinting
In 1992, at 32 years of age, Linford Christie, who only began taking athletics seriously at 19, won the Olympic gold in Barcelona, becoming the oldest Olympic champion by four years. Much to his apparent dislike, his genitalia have become a part of modern British lexicology.
Did you know?
Christie was the first European sprinter to break the 100m’s much-maligned 10-second barrier.

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